CISSS des Laurentides is pleased to celebrate Café l’Atypique’s first year of operation. This welcoming café bistro emphasizes the human aspect of care and community life. Twice a week, young adults with an intellectual disability (ID) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) come to work at the café. This innovative project is part of the socioprofessional activities of the CISSS des Laurentides integration program.
The café also serves as a workplace-based rehabilitation program that puts adults living with a disability in a hands-on learning situation, in keeping with their abilities. For example, it helps them gain skills in areas such as customer service, order management, work organization and communication with the public. This gradually prepares these young adults for individual internships so they can ultimately join the job market.
Café l’Atypique offers an inclusive meeting place where the residents of the CHSLD Lise-Laberge long-term care centre and their families, as well as employees and young adults taking part in the program, can exchange ideas and build intergenerational connections. Around 30 people get to enjoy time together each week. Some young adults also offer support services to CHSLD residents. This venue has a direct impact on seniors’ quality of life by creating a warm and lively environment where people can interact and socialize.
Young users of the café develop a sense of pride and self-worth that is essential to their journey. This project perfectly illustrates our commitment to the inclusion and dignity of all. The enthusiasm that the teams and families have shown over the past year is a testament to the café’s positive impacts on users and staff. Certain residents and their families eagerly look forward to these two weekly opportunities to get together over coffee. This caring environment gives young people participating in the program a chance to gain skills that will serve them well in the job market.
Lead:
Anne Boris-Daniel, Work Integration Program Specialist Educator
Contributors:
Daphnée Benoit-Dorion, Integration Officer / Specialist Educator
Thomas Lecavalier, Workplace User
Raphaël Desjardins, Workplace User
Rock-Antoine Baril, Workplace User
Patrick Raiche, Workplace User
Justine Dansereau, Workplace User
Émilie Léonard, Workplace User
Jérémy Quévillon, Workplace User
David Léveiller, Workplace User
